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Inventory of Plants, Plant

Communities and Herpetofauna of

Concem in the \^cinity of the

Snow-Talon Bum, Helena

National Forest

Prepared for:

Helena National Forest

2880 Skyway Drive
Helena, Montana 59602

By:

Stephen V. Cooper, Gregory M. Kudray, Paul Hendricks, Bryce A. Maxell,
W. Marc Jones, Cobum Currier and Susan Lenard

Montana Natural Heritage Program

Natural Resource Information System

Montana State Library

December 2005

MONTANA

^ Natural Heritage
Pix^^ram

Inventory of Plants, Plant

Communities and Herpetofauna of

Concem in the \^cinity of the

Snow-Talon Bum, Helena

National Forest

Prepared for:

Helena National Forest

2880 Skyway Drive
Helena, Montana 59602

Agreement Number:
03-CS-11011200-007

By:

Stephen V. Cooper, Gregory M. Kudray, Paul Hendricks, Bryce A. Maxell,
W. Marc Jones, Cobum Currier, and Susan Lenard

j^T" MONTANA

'l^ Natural Heritage

^t ^-^ MUSTAFA j'j/'dAA Un-NTAllA

^T^itate If jIV Natuial Kesounx

^ Library ^^jjjP MMmation System

This document should be cited as follows:

Cooper, S.V., G. M. Kudray, P. Hendricks, B.A. Maxell, Jones, W. M., C. Currier, and S. Lenard 2005.
Inventory of Plants, Plant Communities, and Herpetofauna of Concern in the Vicinity of the Snow-Talon
Burn, Helena National Forest. Report to the Helena National Forest. Montana Natural Heritage
Program, Helena, MT. 15 pp. plus appendices.

Executive Summary

Montana Natural Heritage Program (MTNHP)
biologists inventoried sensitive vascular plants,
riparian and wetland associated plant communities,
and herpetofauna near and within the Snow-Talon
Fire of 2003 on the Helena National Forest.
Appropriate habitat was searched for 14 vascular
plant species of concern that are potentially present
in the area, however, none were encountered.
Ninety percent of the twenty sites had
herpetofauna with four amphibian species (Long-
toed Salamander, Rocky Mountain Tailed Frog,
Western Toad, and Columbia Spotted Frog) and
two reptile species (Terrestrial Gartersnake and
Common Gartersnake) recorded. Detections of
the Western Toad, a Montana Species of Concern
as well as a U.S. Forest Service Northern Region
Sensitive Species (MTNHP 2004), were
noteworthy and encouraging. It was breeding in all
four drainages surveyed, indicating that a relatively
large population is now in the area and is possibly
expanding because of the fire and the Western
Toad preference for disturbed forest and wetland
habitats. This is especially significant given
declining trends for this species elsewhere in
western Montana during the last 50 years. We
recommend monitoring of Western Toad
populations in the area and systematic surveys of
stream habitats in order to better document the
distribution and status of Rocky Mountain Tailed
Frogs in the area; there is only one record in this
locale other than the two sites we found.

Detailed vegetation surveys were conducted at
several wetland and riparian sites. Baseline early
post-burn vegetation data will enable further
monitoring of the effects of wildfire on vegetation
and herpetofauna habitat in these important
ecosystems. About half of the 50 potentially
occurring riparian and wetland plant communities
having a rank of G3, S3, or less were documented.

Generally, these sites were ecologically intact and
represented important habitat in this relatively arid
environment. A few sites are unique and the
diversity of wetland plant communities is
considerable.

One large wetland (Copper Creek, Lower
Drainage site) contained an extensive carr, a type
of fen, which is a very uncommon community type
in Montana. This site has an extensive bryophyte
component and warrants further survey for this
taxonomic group. At Porcupine Basin we
putatively identified the easternmost documentation
of Northern licorice-root, a species more typically
found in mesic northern Idaho. The lack of seeds
for a positive identification suggests that another
visit at the appropriate time would be worthwhile,
as this would be a considerable range extension.

Keep Cool Lakes has a community type that may
have once been a species-rich blue wildrye
meadow, a G2 rank community previously known
only from California and Oregon. Nonnative
timothy grass now dominates. Keep Cool Lakes is
still an intact and diverse wetland, but typifies a
problem often encountered when ATV use occurs
in these open and easily accessible types.
Nonnative species were invading along the
disturbed track, one vegetation type was degraded,
and large disturbances were created where ATVs
had to be extricated from wetter areas. Western
toads were breeding here and ATV tracks were
noted within a few feet of where toads were
depositing egg strings.

The ecological integrity of this site and most other
accessible wetlands will be threatened if the
disturbance and resultant weed infestation and
habitat degradation from ATV use continue.

Acknowledgments

The work described in this report was funded status of wetland habitats and wetland dependent
primarily through Challenge Cost Share Agreement species on the Helena National Forest. We would

No. 03-CS-11011200-007 between the Helena also like to acknowledge the Region 1 Office of the

National Forest and the Nature Conservancy's US Forest Service for their continued support of

Montana Natural Heritage Program. We are the statewide amphibian inventory program; data

particularly grateful to Lois Olsen of the Helena from this project is included in the report.
National Forest for her interest in evaluating the

Table of Contents

Introduction

Methods

Botanical and Community Surveys

Herpetofauna Surveys

Data Management

Results and Discussion 3

Herpetofauna 3

Sensitive Plants and Communities 5

Conclusions / Recommendations 13

Herpetofauna 13

Sensitive Plants and Communities 13

Literature Cited 14

List of Figures

Figure 1 . Study area and ecological survey areas in the vicinity of the Snow-Talon burn 2

Figure 2. Wetlands surveyed for herpetofauna in 2004 and 2005 4

Figure 3. ATV track through Keep Cool Lake wetlands 9

Figure4. Drawdown zone at Reservoir Lake 11

Figures. Porcupine Basin wet meadow 12

Appendix A. Global/State Rank Definitions
Appendix B . Tables

Table 1 . Inventory targets for plant species of concern and highly ranked plant

communities Appendix B - 1

Table 2. Amphibian and reptile species detected during wetland site surveys Appendix B - 2

Appendix C. Occurrence Maps of Herpetofauna

Figure 1. Long-toed Salamander {Amby stoma macrodactylum) Appendix C - 1

Figure 2. Rocky Mountain Tailed Frog (Ascaphus montanus) Appendix C - 2

Figure 3. Western Toad (Bufo boreas) Appendix C - 3

Figure 4. Columbia Spotted Frog {Rana luteiventris) Appendix C - 4

Figures. Terrestrial Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans) Appendix C - 5

Figure 6. Common Gartersnake {Thamnophis sirtalis) Appendix C - 6

Introduction

The summer of 2003 was an extreme fire year
throughout the western US and western Montana,
where one extensive fire, the Snow-Talon,
occurred on the Helena National Forest near
Lincoln (Figure 1). The USFS contracted with the
Montana Natural Heritage Program to conduct a
survey to gauge the impact of the fire on some of
the wetland systems and a selected portion of their
biota. Another objective was to understand the
diversity of wetlands within a core area that
included the burned area as well as some outlying
sites. This survey can serve as a baseline to help
predict fire effects on herpetofauna in similar
ecosystems and to evaluate post fire succession.

Methods

We conducted surveys in the late spring and
summer of 2004 and 2005 that were focused on
plant and amphibian species of concern (Appendix
B Tables 1 and 2) and priority vegetation types
(plant associations) associated with wetland/
riparian habitats. Lois Olsen, Ecologist for the
Helena National Forest, made informed suggestions
as to which drainages and wetlands were of
highest potential interest.

Botanical & Community Surveys

We compiled a list (Appendix B Table 1) of highly
ranked communities, those with a Global (G) or
State (S) rank of 3 or less or where S-rank was
currently undetermined (Grossman et al. 1998,
Anderson et al. 1998). Forest Service Sensitive
plant species (Appendix B Table 1) likely to occur
in the study area were also identified. Further
information on these plants and communities can be
obtained from the Montana Natural Heritage
Program's web site, www.mtnhp.org and "Plant
Species of Concern" by the Montana Natural
Heritage Program (2003). In the field, we sampled
vegetation communities by structure and
composition with emphasis on dominants and
indicator species. Vegetation keys and descriptions
(Pfister et al. 1977, Hansen et al. 1995) were
consulted to verify vegetation associations at sites.
Some communities did not key to or match
descriptions in either of the above references.

When this was the case, we then consulted the
EcoART database (ABI 2000) and attempted to
match communities to those in the database.

Herpetofauna Surveys

Sites for amphibian surveys were identified through
discussions with the Heritage Program wetland
ecologist, Helena National Forest personnel, and
study of USGS 7.5' topographic maps. Marshes,
small ponds and lakes, and selected stream reaches
in the study area, all of which were north of
Lincoln on Helena National Forest lands in Lewis
and Clark and Powell counties, were priority sites
for surveys.

Shorelines and wetland margins were searched for
adults and juveniles while walking along the edge.
The entire perimeter was searched at some sites,
others were inspected by traversing the length of
the site through shallow emergent vegetation, or
along selected portions of the margin where
emergent vegetation or other cover was present.
June surveys included visual searches for egg
masses attached to submerged and emergent
vegetation or egg strings in shallow open water. At
regular intervals, and where appropriate, the
aquatic habitat was sampled for larvae using a
dipnet.

Time of day and duration of searches (a measure
of search effort: Heyer et al. 1994, Olson et al.
1997), weather, water temperature, and species
encountered were recorded on standard U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service data sheets. Duration of site
surveys ranged from 9-300 minutes (Appendix B
Table 2), and depended upon the size and structural
complexity of each site, site conditions (including
weather), and findings. A team of two or three
persons conducted each survey.

Data Management

New data collected on amphibians, plant species of
concern, and high quality vegetation communities
were georeferenced, digitized and documented as
element occurrence records in the databases
maintained by the Montana Natural Heritage
Program. Plot data and summary information on
noteworthy sites were also entered into MTNHP

^ ^^^ V^ O X T A N A

/ Ji\ Natural

Figure 1. Study area and ecological survey areas near the Snow-Talon burn

databases. This data system serves as the primary
source of information on the status and distribution
of Montana's native species and habitats.

Results and Discussion
Herpetofauna

In 2004 we conducted 20 site surveys for
amphibians (Figure 2, Appendix B Table 2) in the
drainages of Beaver Creek (sites 11, 19-20),
Copper Creek (sites 8-10, 14-18), Keep Cool
Creek (sites 1-2), and Landers Fork (sites 3-7, 12-
13). Sites ranged in elevation from 4900 ft to 7220
ft and were surveyed during 1-4 June or 8-9
September; all sites were visited only once. In
2005, 7 of these sites were resurveyed and an
oxbow on the Blackfoot River (site 21) was also
surveyed because of previous records of Western
Toad breeding activity at these locations (Figure 2
& Appendix C Figure 5, Appendix B Table 2).
Four amphibian species (Long-toed Salamander,
Rocky Mountain Tailed Frog, Western Toad,
Columbia Spotted Frog) and two reptile species
(Terrestrial Gartersnake and Common
Gartersnake) were detected during the surveys.
No amphibians or reptiles were found at two (10%)
of the sites we surveyed. The most commonly
observed amphibian during our 2004 surveys was
the Columbia Spotted Frog, detected at 13 sites.
The Rocky Mountain Tailed Frog was found at two
sites, the Long-toed Salamander at one site, the
Terrestrial Gartersnake at one site, and the
Common Garter Snake at one site. The Western
Toad was detected at nine sites in 2004 and
detected breeding at 5 of the 8 sites resurveyed in
2005 when they were the focus of survey effort.

We found evidence of breeding in the study area by
four of the amphibian species detected in both 2004
and 2005: Long-toed Salamander at one site (5%)
in 2004 and five sites (63%) in 2005, Rocky
Mountain Tailed Frog at the only two sites (100%)
surveyed in 2004 which had suitable habitat
present. Western Toad at five sites (25%) in 2004
and five sites (63%) in 2005, and Columbia Spotted
Frog at ten sites (50%) in 2004 and three sites
(38%) in 2005 (Appendix B Table 2, Figure 2,
Appendix C Figures 1-6). Long-toed Salamanders,

Western Toads, and Columbia Spotted Frogs were
documented breeding in each of the four drainages
we sampled as well as at the oxbow on the
Blackfoot River. Rocky Mountain Tailed Frogs
were detected only in the Beaver Creek drainage.
However, this was the only drainage where suitable
stream habitats were surveyed. As indicated by
the presence of another observation of the species
on a tributary to Copper Creek in 1966, it seems
likely that additional surveys of suitable stream
habitats would reveal their presence throughout
much of the area.

During the 2004 surveys, we found all native
amphibian species expected in the study area.
Three additional native amphibian species found in
Montana west of the Continental Divide, Coeur
d'Alene Salamander (Plethodon idahoensis),
Pacific Treefrog (Pseudacris regilla) and
Northern Leopard Frog {Rana pipiens), have not
yet been reported from either Powell or Lewis and
Clark counties (Maxell et al. 2003, Werner et al.
2004).

Of the four amphibian species present, the Western
Toad is a Montana Species of Concern, as well as
a U.S. Forest Service Northern Region Sensitive
species (Montana Natural Heritage Program
2004). It is noteworthy that we not only detected
them in all four drainages that we surveyed, but
that we detected them breeding at 25% of the sites
surveyed in 2004. This is especially encouraging
given apparent declining trends for this species
elsewhere in western Montana during that last 50
years and region wide detection of breeding at only
2-5% of sites surveyed in recent years (Maxell
2000, 2004; Maxell et al. 2003; Werner et al. 2004).

Factors affecting breeding toads in western
Montana and the sites they use for breeding are not
entirely clear. However, there is growing evidence
from surveys conducted by the statewide
amphibian inventory program, as well as research
being conducted in Glacier National Park, that
stand replacing fires are beneficial to Western
Toads. These fires open up both aquatic and
terrestrial habitats to greater solar exposure and
may also provide more terrestrial burrows by
loosening soils and burning out tree roots (Maxell,

Site numbers correspond
to those in Table 2

0.9 1.8 Miles
_J I

M O !Si T A N A

Natiaral
Heritage
Program

Figure 2. Wetlands surveyed for herpetofauna in 2004 and 2005

personal observation; Steve Corn and Blake
Hossack, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research
Institute, personal communication). Our detections
and observations corroborate these findings. We
found adult Western Toads in several wetlands
within the Copper Creek drainage and Indian
Meadows that experienced extensive fire
disturbance in 2003. The season when fires occur
may be important. Adult Western Toads breed
earlier in the year than the typical peak of fire
season and are able to seek refuge during autumn
fires. Late summer and autumn fires could impact
tadpoles and recent metamorphs. However, toads
can live 20 years or more once they reach
adulthood, a life span that could include many years
of complete reproductive failure.

One factor known to affect successful breeding is
trampling or similar disturbance. At Upper Keep
Cool Lake (site 1 in Figure 2 and Appendix B Table
2) we found recent ATV tracks in the wet meadow
as well as within the water within a few feet of
where toads were depositing egg strings in 2004
and observed similar evidence of ATV use on our
visit in 2005 when the site was virtually dry.
Motorized activity in wet meadows could severely
affect toad breeding. At known toad breeding sites
where the public tends to concentrate, signs could
be posted to remind the public that such activity is
banned for that specific reason, as well as to
protect vulnerable wet meadow and near- shore
wetland habitats.

Sensitive Plants & Communities

The information below is summarized from notes
taken during surveys of late August 2004 and
organized by site (Figure 1) in alphabetical order.

• Copper Creek, Upper Drainage: Two

pond-centered wetlands were inventoried near
the headwaters of Copper Creek. These
depressional wetlands probably resulted from
glacial scouring of Belt Series bedrock
(primarily argillite) leaving relatively shallow
excavations with a somewhat impermeable
substrate into which headwaters drain and pond
before overflowing. The more southerly of the
two ponds has dried significantly (no standing
water) from what is portrayed on the Stonewall

Mountain USGS 1 :24,000 quadrangle map; the
previous six droughty years may have resulted
in the mudflat condition that now exists. The
lowest portion of the (former) pond is a mudflat
dominated by a tussock form of water sedge
(Carex aquatilis); tufted hairgrass
(Deschampsia cespitosa) is scattered as well.
The most conspicuous forb is a species of
pussytoes (Antennaria). Exposed gravel and
rock, once underwater, forms a concentric zone
about the mudflat. The Snow-Talon Fire
burned up to the perimeter of the pond but
there was no obvious evidence that the wetland
vegetation had burned.

The considerably larger, more northerly pond
has not suffered any perceptible drawdown and
is completely encircled by wetland vegetation.
The Snow-Talon Fire burned through all the
different vegetation types surrounding the pond
with variable effects but was most noticeable in
the forested portion of the wetland.

Engelmann spruce - subalpine fir / Claspleaf
twistedstalk (Picea engelmannii - Abies
lasiocarpa / Streptopus amplexifolius) and
Engelmann spruce / field horsetail {P.
engelmannii / Equisetum arvense) are the
two major plant associations comprising the
forested portion of the wetland (less than Va of
the ponds perimeter) where water input from
upslope feeder streams was concentrated.
This highly oxygenated water may explain the
presence of trees here and not in other
perimeter areas where water is stagnant and
oxygen depleted. More than half of the trees,
predominantly Engelmann spruce, but including
subalpine fir and lodgepole pine {Pinus
contorta) were killed by the fire. The
undergrowth experienced fire of varying
intensities but has responded with vigor,
probably due to a post-burn fertilization effect.
The undergrowth dominants are arrowleaf
ragwort (Senecio triangularis), Canby's
licorice-root (Ligusticum canbyi), Trollius
laxus (American globeflower), green false
hellebore (Veratrum viride), claspleaf
twistedstalk, Parnassia fimbriata (fringed
grass-of-Parnassus), broadleaf arnica (Arnica

latifolia), and blue wildrye (Elymus glaucus).
Grouse whortleberry (Vaccinium scoparium)
and rusty menziesia {Menziesia ferruginea)
were scattered on higher ground, often
encircling tree bases. A stream through the
forested wetland supports a liverwort species
on completely submerged stream gravels. The
streambank was colonized in large part by
Sphagnum squarrosum (and/or S. teres).

The perimeter of the area post fire now is
dominated by herbaceous species; however
about two thirds of the perimeter appears to
have previously been shrub/dwarf- shrub-
dominated. All shrub species are resprouting,
but given only a partial season of post-fire
growth, their heights are uniformly less than 2
dm. Prior to the fire about a third of the pond's
perimeter was occupied by herbaceous
communities dominated by beaked sedge
(Carex utriculata) or bluejoint reedgrass
{Calamagrostis Canadensis). Shrub
communities are dominated by willow (Salix)
species, primarily Booth' willow (S. boothii)
and to a lesser extent, Tweedy's willow (5.
tweedyi) which is confined to beaver (Castor
canadensis) workings. Bog laurel (Kalmia
polifolia) and rose meadowsweet (= rose
spiraea. Spiraea splendens) are minor
components. The undergrowth of these
shrublands is primarily dominated by beaked
sedge and/or water sedge and to a lesser
degree bluejoint reedgrass. The shrub
communities are on raised areas created by
former beaver use. The beaked sedge
community ranged from near total dominance
by this species to equal mixes of beaked sedge
and water sedge and/or bluejoint reedgrass /
northern reedgrass (C striata). Timber
oatgrass (Danthonia intermedia), a species
typically associated with dry sites, quite
unexpectedly was scattered in some saturated
areas here. Primary forb species included
scentbottle (Platanthera dilatata =
Habenaria dilatata), Rocky Mountain
groundsel (Packera streptanthifolia =
Senecio streptanthifolius), twinleaf bedstraw
(Galium bifolium), sticky tofieldia (Tofieldia
glutinosa) and elephanthead lousewort

(Pedicularis groenlandica). The primary
willow species are Booth's willow and
Tweedy's willow; these two species are
dominant on old beaver workings, beaked
sedge is the dominant herb. A variety of
bryophytes, including Aulacomnium palustre,
Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Bryum spp.,
Polytrichum spp. and especially Sphagnum
spp. form a rather continuous ground layer.

Fragments of several different community
types (1-5 m along their longest axis) were
developed on what appeared to be peat
deposits (the depth of peat was not measured,
but it is likely that the histic epipedon was of
insufficient depth to qualify these sites as
peatlands). Sedge tussocks (Carex spp.,
unidentified due to immature inflorescence)
constituted 40-70% canopy cover. They were
dispersed over a substrate that was mostly very
shallow standing water with a submerged lawn
of mosses. Scorpidium spp. is dominant with
Bryum pseudotriquetrum and Aulacomnium
palustre common. The provisionally
recognized Tweedy's willow / bluejoint
reedgrass shrubland, a plant community not
described at either the state or national level,
occurs in small patches on substrates with
better drainage than those supporting other
willow communities in this complex. This
Tweedy's willow-dominated community
occupies essentially the same habitat as the
Geyer's willow (Salix geyeriana)/ bluejoint
reedgrass shrubland in which Booth's willow is
considered an ecological analogue of Geyer's
willow for purposes of management oriented
classification (Hansen et al. 1995). For
tracking diversity it is probably prudent to
recognize the Tweedy's willow / bluejoint
reedgrass community as unique; it can be
lumped with Geyer's willow type for mapping
and management purposes.

No sensitive plants were found within
these wetlands or in the near vicinity.

» Copper Creek / North Fork Creek
Confluence: This wetland complex was near
the confluence of Copper Creek with North

Fork Creek. Just west of the confluence of
these creeks is a forested and shrub-dominated
wetland that burned at various intensities. The
forested plant associations Engelmann spruce /
field horsetail and Engelmann spruce / bluejoint
reedgrass occur in a complex mosaic with the
last named occupying sites lower in the
landscape (wetter) and the former occurring in
slightly higher positions (by 1-4 dm). In
addition to Engelmann spruce, lodgepole pine
dominates (or at one time dominated) the
overstory and mature subalpine fir is scattered
within the drier association. Bluejoint
reedgrass forms a particularly lush cover,
hypothetically due to a post-bum fertilization
effect and the reduced tree canopy;
incorporated in this tall grass layer is fringed
brome (Bromus ciliatus) and two alien species,
redtop {Agrostis gigantea = A. alba) and
quackgrass (Elymus repens = Agropyron
repens). Forbs, including Lyall's angelica
{Angelica arguta), giant mountain aster
(Canadanthus modestus = Aster modestus),
and alpine leafybract aster (Symphyotrichum
foliaceum = A. foliaceus), are a modest
component of this type with a combined cover
of less than 10 % throughout most of the
mosaic. Robust populations of the noxious
weed Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) are
also present; whether this incursion occurred
prior to the fire or following is unknown.
Inclusions of diamondleaf willow {Salix
planifolia) / beaked sedge are present with the
willow reduced to root-crown sprouting
following the fire.

A tall willow community existed prior to the fire
closer to the confluence. The fire burned over
the willows killing them back to the base but
virtually all clumps are vigorously root-crown
sprouting. The primary plant associations
present are Geyer's willow / beaked sedge,
Booth's willow / beaked sedge. Booth's willow
/ bluejoint reedgrass, and diamondleaf willow /
beaked sedge. The mix of these vigorously
sprouting clumps of the two willows is so
complex on a fine scale that distinguishing
individual community types is quite pointless
(situations like this prompted Hansen et al.

[1995] to declare ecological equivalence of the
two willow species, using Geyer's willow as
the nominal). The grasses and sedges in the
willow complex are also quite lush, forming
nearly complete coverage, a condition that can
be contrasted with the pre-burn situation where
the graminoid and forb components are usually
quite inconspicuously mixed between clumps of
10-20 ft tall willows. If one were to categorize
the current status of the former willow swamp
it would be termed a mosaic of the bluejoint
reedgrass and beaked sedge herbaceous plant
associations.

No sensitive plant species were found.

Copper Creek, Lower Drainage Wetlands:

A large wetland, perhaps a fen in part, lies
about Va mile southeast of the confluence of the
Copper Creek and its tributary. North Fork
Creek. This feature occupies what is probably
a large kettle hole formed during the
Pleistocene glaciation. This wetland is fed by
subsurface seepage from the main stem of
Copper Creek. The whole wetland was
consumed with fire of varying intensities. The
western-most portion of the wetland looks like
an extensive carr (a type of fen with woody
species prominent and, like all fens, having at
least 30 cm of peat). The peat depth was not
measured but in several places jumping on the
surface created pressure waves that could be
seen some distance away (typical of the
floating mats of fens). This western portion
had been burned very thoroughly with the shrub
component currently sprouting prolifically but
still between 1 and 3 dm tall. It appears that a
mix of shrubs was present prior to the burn but
now no one species could be recognized as
dominant. Present are dwarf birch (Betula
nana = B. glandulosa), diamondleaf willow.
Tweedy 's willow, shrubby cinquef oil
(Dasiphora floribunda = Potentilla fruticosa
= Pentaphylloides floribunda), alderleaf
buckthorn (Rhamnus alnifolia) and
Engelmann spruce. Most stems of the spruce
were killed and not sprouting. Beaked sedge is
the dominant herb where these shrubs occur,
with herb cover ranging widely from 10% -

80%. Other conspicuous herbs are arrowleaf
sweet coltsfoot (Petasites sagittata), largeleaf
averts (Geum macrophyllum), small camas
(Camassia quamash), alpine leafybract aster,
purple marshlocks (Comarum palustre =
Potentilla palustre), sticky cinquefoil
(Potentilla glandulosa), wetland violet species
{Viola spp.), alpine bentgrass {Agrsotis
humilis) and Baltic rush {J uncus balticus).
Several species of moss, all associated with
rich carrs and fens, formed a nearly continuous
ground cover. Moss species included (on
hummocks) Tomenthypnum nitens. Sphagnum
warnstorfii and (in swales, standing water)
Scorpidium scorpioides, Limprichtia
cossonii {Scorpidium cossonii), Limprichtia
revolvens {Scorpidium revolvens), and
Calliergon stramineum.

Some areas, especially the eastern end of the
wetland, never possessed a woody component
[or this woody component occurred in
dispersed, burned and formerly robust clumps
of Geyer's {S. geryeri) and Drummond's
willow {S. drummondii)] Beaked sedge is
dominant, although in some places alpine
bentgrass is a conspicuous component
approaching co-dominance. The ground cover
is a lawn of mosses with the following most
prominent in declining order: Tomenthypnum
nitens, Brachythecium salebrosum
(= Brachythecium pseudocollinum),
Limprichtia cossonii, and Sphagnum
warnstorfii. Conspicuous patches, light green
from a distance, are dominated by woolyfruit
sedge {Carex lasiocarpa); this community has
only a few vascular species including muhly
{Muhlenbergia spp.), alpine bentgrass, beaked
sedge, alpine leafybract aster, and common
camas (C quamash). Also located in the
eastern portion of the complex are extensive
areas of fowl bluegrass {Poa palustris), both
with and without beaked sedge; this
composition along with the scattered patches of
Canada thistle could be indicative of past
disturbance.

No sensitive vascular plant species were
found here, but a more intensive inventory

of the diverse bryophyte community could
be rewarding.

Keep Cool Lakes: These ponds have dried
to "water weed" colonized mud flats due to the
multi-year drought. Silts and clays have settled
on a bottom of rounded, stream-worked rock.
The mud flat is colonized by patches of
buckbean {Menyanthes trifoliata) and various
species of pondweed {Potamogeton spp.) and
dock {Rumex spp.). Baltic rush {Juncus
balticus) is also present and appears to be
actively expanding from somewhat isolated
patches. Near the inflow there is a moisture/
salinity gradient occupied by four relatively
distinct communities. The driest sites are
occupied by a nearly monospecific tufted
hairgrass type that transitions into a moister
tufted hairgrass with a dense sub-canopy of
shortawn foxtail {Alopecurus aequalis). A
pale false mannagrass {Torreyochloa pallida
(Torr.) Church var. pauciflora (formerly
Puccinellia pauciflora) type is next then the
standing water condition (mostly 3-6 cm deep)
supports common spikerush {Eleocharis
palustris) in a virtual monoculture with the
exception of scattered tussocks of tufted
hairgrass and dock.

The pale false mannagrass has a dense
undergrowth of needle spikerush {Eleocharis
acicularis); a community with this composition
has not described for Montana (even as a
dominance type) or other states. The substrate
for this community appears to have a
considerably higher clay content than the other
communities and, if this species is similar to
others in its genus like P. nuttalliana, then this
community may reflect an alkaline substrate as
well. On the margins of the upper pond
(particularly in the area of inflow and nearby to
the east and south) is an extensive zone of
tufted hairgrass that has been invaded with
timothy {Pleum pratense) and Kentucky
bluegrass {Poa pratensis); this infestation is
heaviest near an ATV trail (Figure 3) branching
to the south around the pond. Canada thistle
and common mullein {Yerbascum thapsus)
have also established in this area with Canada

thistle expanding into the muddy pond fringes.
The ATV track is worn to the point that
portions of this tufted hairgrass community
have been denuded of vegetation. This track
and areas immediately to either side are
disturbed creating a prime weed establishment
site, especially since the ATVs could also
disperse weed seeds (which are abundant in
the camping area).

Figure 3. ATV track through Keep Cool Lake
wetlands

The ATV track goes on to connect the Upper
with Lower Keep Cool Lake. Along this route,
timothy has expanded extensively to dominate
what could have been a species-rich blue
wildrye (Elymus glaucus) dominated meadow.
Blue wildrye is now is only scattered at the site.
If true, this meadow, although probably not a
jurisdictional wetland, could have been a unique
meadow type (G2) known (as of 1998) from
only California and Oregon (Anderson et al.
1998) and not previously reported from
Montana. The ATV trail continues to the
perimeter of Lower Keep Cool Lake and, in at
least two locations, there were massive
disturbances where they had to be extricated
from the mud.

There is a small stand of willows at the head of
the Lower Lake including Drummond's,
Booth's, and Bebb's (S. bebbiana) willows; the
vegetation association most similar is
Drummond's willow / beaked sedge. Extending
to both the north and south of the inlet and
arcing around to the west is an extensive and

typically species-poor beaked sedge association;
common associates are swordleaf rush {Juncus
ensifolius), wild bergamot (Monarda
fistulosa) and, in standing water, pondweed.
Along a more western portion of the northern
shore a sort of reverse zonation was
encountered where the wettest community, the
beaked sedge association, was nearest the
upland, giving way centripetally to a common
spikerush - tufted hairgrass community, in turn
grading to a nearly pure tufted hairgrass
association and lastly to a saturated surface
with water-filled mini-depressions and much
exposed mud that has been uniquely, and
virtually monospecifically, colonized by greater
creeping spearwort {Ranunculus flammuld).
Greater creeping spearwort is a common early
colonizer of mudflats, especially those with
brackish waters, but usually it occurs only as
scattered plants, not as the almost continuous
cover seen on the drawdown zone of Lower
Keep Cool Lake. A visit at one point in time
can not determine how ephemeral this condition
might be, with continued drought and receding
waters to expose mudflats this unique
community may persist and expand vegetatively
via stolons.

No sensitive vascular species were
documented at this local, but a unique
community dominated by pale false
mannagrass was associated with fine
textured substrates.

• Klondike Creek: A search was conducted
both upslope and down (approximately 200 m in
each direction) from the Beaver Creek Rd.
crossing. This creek occurs in a V-notch
drainage with steep (in excess of 40%) slopes
(at least upslope of the road). The drainage
configuration strongly constrained the type of
wetlands represented. By far the most
prevalent wetland was thinleaf alder (Alnus
incana ssp. tenuifolia) dominated and confined
to the immediate banks of the stream, only
extending about 2 m away on mini-terraces in
those uncommon places where the stream
gradient was less. Undergrowth in these
thinleaf alder thickets varied from a diversity of

mesic forbs to virtually no undergrowth (two
conditions recognized as separate associations).
In some stretches, red-osier dogwood {Cornus
sericea) was common, which is indicative of
another type of thinleaf alder association. We
did not detect abiotic variables that might have
been responsible for the compositional
differences. Most of the stream was
entrenched enough that the bordering type was
forested with the subalpine fir - Engelmann
spruce / queencup beadlily plant association
dominated by spruce, Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga
menziesii), and lodgepole pine. This association
is not a wetland but is mesic to hygric in its
moisture status and also lacks vegetation
indicative of a wetland condition. Very small
patches (fragments) of the subalpine fir -
Engelmann spruce / claspleaf twistedstalk plant
association also occur scattered immediately
adjacent to the stream or in swales within the
very narrow floodplain.

Habitat adjacent to this stream is not
conducive to supporting the sensitive plant
species we were seeking. Cattle use is
also considerable.

Lincoln Gulch: This area encompasses the
site of the first discovery (mid 1860's) of gold in
this portion of the state; the activity, including
dredging and pit excavations, continued until the
turn of the century. In the ensuing lOO-i- years
the area has largely reforested but the mark of
mining is still omnipresent. The steam that
courses through the gulch is ephemeral and,
with the effects of past dredging, stream
modification and downcutting, there is virtually
no riparian or wetland communities. Most of
the area is potentially dominated by the
Engelmann spruce or Douglas-fir series; moister
sites support the Engelmann spruce / queencup
beadlily association, the Douglas-fir / common
snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)
association is on dryer areas. The area
probably does not support any jurisdictional
wetlands but is clearly subirrigated since the
swales support small patches of the Engelmann
spruce - subalpine fir / red-osier dogwood
association (where lodgepole pine, aspen

[Populus tremuloides] and Douglas-fir are the
usual serai dominants). Dogwood canopy cover
ranges from about 10 to 40% and is heavily
browsed to a somewhat uniform height of 1 to
1.4 m. The undergrowth is dominated by a
short to mid-shrub component dominated by
common snowberry (to 80% canopy cover) and
includes creeping barberry {Mahonia repens),
common spiraea {Spiraea betulifolia), and
russet buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis).
The forb component of this association is
weakly represented and includes sweetscented
bedstraw (Galium triflorum), falsegold
groundsel (Packera pseudaurea = Senecio
pseudaureus), western meadowrue
(Thalictrum occidentale), and starry false lily-
of-the-valley (Maianthemum stellatum =
Smilacina stellata), pink wintergreen (Pyrola
asarifolia), and sweetcicely (Osmorhiza
berteroi). Graminoids include blue wildrye,
roughleaf ricegrass (Oryzopsis asperifolia),
and false melic (Schizachne purpurascens).
The excavated pit which ranges up to 3 m in
depth contain red-osier dogwood since the
slopes and bottoms are near the water-table.
Dogwood shoots growing from the center of the
deep pits are largely unbrowsed due to difficulty
of animal access.

Habitat adjacent to this ephemeral stream
are not conducive to supporting the
sensitive plant species we were seeking
and true wetland communities are not
present.

Nolo Lakes: Located at about 6,400 and 6,500
feet along the Meadow Creek Pack Trail these
two water bodies have a considerably restricted
wetland margin, approximately 1 to 5 m in
width. The wettest community is a
discontinuous fringe of water sedge that is
primarily anchored in a thin unstable mud
substrate; some of this community occupies the
immediately surrounding stabilized, saturated
and highly organic bank. The next drier
community is a discontinuous zone typified by a
robust sward of bluejoint reedgrass, in which
arrowleaf ragwort and green false hellebore are
important components. Occupying the most

extensive and slightly drier wetland habitat is a
narrow forested zone dominated by well-spaced
Engelmann spruce and very occasional
subalpine fir with an undergrowth of scattered
rusty menziesia, prickly current (Ribes
lacustre), thinleaf or globe huckleberry
(Vaccinium membranaceum), with grouse
whortleberry in the mid-sized to dwarf shrub
layer. Arrowleaf groundsel (Senecio
triangularis), green false hellebore, claspleaf
twis teds talk, and bluejoint reedgrass are the
most abundant herbs, but their individual covers
seldom exceeds 10%. The forested plant
associations are a mosaic of Engelmann spruce
/ bluejoint reedgrass on wetter sites and
subalpine fir - Engelmann spruce / claspingleaf
twistedstalk elsewhere. The latter association
has a diversity of wet-site forbs but since rusty
menziesia (M. ferruginea) has more than 5%
cover this should be the rusty menziesia phase
of this association (Cooper et al. 1985), a phase
now elevated to plant association level
(NatureServe 2005). The Nolo Lakes
expression of this phase matches the modal
condition, which is associated with frost pockets
and soils with at least seasonally high water
tables.

No sensitive plant species were found and
Nolo Lakes lack appropriate habitat for
these species.

Reservoir Lake: This water body appears to
lack an outlet and has a water level determined
by the prevailing climate. In this period of
extended drought, the water level has been
drawn down severely leaving a rocky
unvegetated shoreline. At the high-watermark
tufted hairgrass forms a nearly pure sward
encircling the pond and extends over a rocky
substrate to the surrounding forest comprised
largely of subalpine fir / beargrass (Xerophyllum
tenax) or subalpine fir / twinflower (Linnaea
borealis) plant associations (Figure 4). Giant
mountain aster and alpine leafybract aster,
although very scattered, are the next most
abundant herbs in the tufted hairgrass meadow
type. The fewflower spikerush (Eleocharis
quinqueflora = E. pauciflora) community

colonizes the few, scattered and small mud
flats. A common associate, although occurring
with considerably less cover, is Poa secunda
(the taxonomic entity once known as P.
juncifolia, a robust, wetland-associated form
of P. secunda). Much of the shoreline, particu-
larly the drawdown zone, is being invaded by
weedy species including oxeye daisy
(Leucanthemum vulgare), white clover {Trifo-
lium repens), timothy, and even spotted knap-
weed (Centaurea biebersteinii).

No sensitive plant species were found
and Reservoir Lake lacks appropriate
habitat for the species we are seeking.

Figure 4. Drawdown zone at Reservoir Lake

' Porcupine Basin: This is not actually a basin
but is a reach of the North Fork of Arrastra
Creek with a lesser gradient than the adjoining
reaches in this vicinity. The area that might be
considered a basin is predominantly forested
with stands in the riparian portion dominated by
Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir.
Shrublands are confined to streamside stringers
dominated by thinleaf alder and Sitka alder
(Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata). The forested
stands that would include true wetlands are of
the subalpine fir - Engelmann spruce / rusty
menziesia /claspingleaf twistedstalk plant
association. Large (approaching a meter in
diameter), widely spaced, often with missing
mid to upper crown foliage, Engelmann spruce
dominate the tree canopy with subalpine fir in
the sub-canopy. The cover of rusty menziesia
is generally in excess of 70%, mixed with much

lesser coverages of Sitka alder, thinleaf
huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum),
prickly current and rose spiraea. Beneath the
dense shrub canopy forbs are not particularly
abundant but are consistently present. Those
indicative of high moisture status include
claspleaf twistedstalk, green false hellebore
(Veratrum viride), arrowleaf ragwort (Senecio
triangularis), Lyall's angelica, softleaf sedge
(Carex disperma); more generalist forbs
included threeleaf foamflower (Tiarella
trifoliata), queencup beadlily, Sitka valerian
{Valeriana sitchensis), Hitchcock's smooth
woodrush (Luzula glabrata var. hitchcockii),
northwestern twayblade (Listera caurina), and
northern licorice-root. This hygric to hydric
association transitions upslope to a mesic forest
typified by the Engelmann spruce - subalpine
fir / rusty menziesia / queencup beadlily
association.

The most unique aspect of this area is the herb-
dominated community (Figure 5) that occurs
just upslope and to the west of the creek
occupying deep and subirrigated (and/or
seasonally saturated) silty soils derived from
alluvium and coUuvium (based on vegetation
composition alone this would be a wetland but
hydrology is unknown and soils were neither
mottled nor gleyed). This community would
key to the arrowleaf ragwort herbaceous
vegetation plant association but the Porcupine
Basin representations are considerably more
diverse than the modal conception of this
association. Although arrowleaf ragwort is
generally dominant (30-50% canopy cover),
other forbs have up to 20% cover including
subalpine fleabane (Erigeron peregrinus),
Lyall's angelica, green false hellebore, western
sweetroot (Osmorhiza occidentalis),
sweetscented bedstraw, pioneer violet {Viola
glabella), beargrass (Xerophyllum tenax),
common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum),
broadleaf arnica, western meadowrue and
Virginia strawberry (Frag aria virginiana).
Blue wildrye was the dominant graminoid with
up to 30% canopy cover; other graminoids
included Pumpelly's brome (Bromus inermis
ssp. pumpellianus) and mountain brome

{Bromus marginatus). Despite abundant litter
there was considerable bare ground due to the
workings of pocket gophers (Thomomys
talpoides). The most recently disturbed of
these areas were dominated by fireweed
(Chamerion angustifolium = Epilobium
angustifolium), manyflower stickseed
(Hackelia floribunda), western pearly
everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea), and a
species of mustard. There was a shrub
component but only on the periphery of the
herbaceous community including thinleaf
huckleberry, prickly current, and rosy spiraea.
This meadow complex is probably excellent
grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) habitat.

Figure 5. Porcupine Basin wet meadow

Porcupine Basin did not contain any of the
sensitive plant species we are seeking,
however, the putative occurrence (mature
seeds required for positive identification)
of northern licorice-root (Ligusticum
verticillatum) is thought to be the
easternmost documentation of this
species, which is usually associated with
the more moderate conditions of northern
Idaho.

Theodore Creek: This creek, at least the
400m stretch upslope form Beaver Creek Rd.
has a moderately steep gradient and is set in a
V-notch (relatively narrow, < 20 m wide, flat
bottom) in a forested environment. The only
wetland vegetation is confined to streamside
stringers of the thinleaf alder community type

(Hansen et al. 1995) and the subalpine fir -
Engelmann spruce / claspleaf twistedstalk plant
association. Both communities range from
about 1 to 5 m in width and tend to border the
subalpine fir / queencup beadlily plant
association (Clintonia uniflora phase) on
upslope or drier sites of the stream bench.
Queencup beadlily, starry false lily-of-the-valley
and twinflower dominate the undergrowth and
various shrub species, including principally
thinleaf huckleberry and thimbleberry (Rubus
parviflorus), constitute less than 20% cover.
For extensive stretches the forest, dominated by
a variable mix of Engelmann spruce, lodgepole
pine, Douglas-fir and subalpine fir, extends right
to the creek bank with only the presence of the
hydric indicators arrowleaf ragwort, claspleaf
twistedstalk, green false hellebore and cow-
parsnip serving to delimit the narrow wetland
zone. Fragments of a relatively rare plant
association, Engelmann spruce / softleaf sedge,
occur in saturated to the surface small patches
(mostly less than 16 m^) immediately adjacent to
the creek.

monitoring of recruitment through metamorphosis
when larvae are about to metamorphose. Together
these surveys would assess the effects of post fire
habitat succession as well as anthropogenic effects
of on and off road vehicle use and recreation,
which might require management actions.
Furthermore, regular monitoring of Western Toads
would also allow all of the other lentic breeding
amphibians and aquatic reptiles in the area to be
monitored.

Due to the paucity of records in the study area for
Rocky Mountain Tailed Frogs, we also recommend
systematic surveys of stream habitats in the area
for this species. These could either be conducted
as focal surveys targeting this species in order to
thoroughly understand its distribution and ecological
limits in the area, or may be combined with fishery
surveys if costs of the first approach are
prohibitive. In either case, it is important to submit
all observations of this and other species to the
Montana Natural Heritage Program so that this
information can be placed in the statewide Point
Observation Database.

No sensitive plants were found, probably
due to the lack of appropriate habitat but
cattle grazing may also be important.

Conclusions /
Recommendations

Herpetofauna

Although Western Toads remain widespread in
western Montana they now breed in a relatively
small percentage of watersheds and lentic sites
across the region. Because population strongholds
(i.e., watersheds with a relatively high percent of
sites used for breeding) are rare across western
Montana, the relatively healthy populations in this
region are noteworthy. Perhaps the highest priority
for management of herpetofauna in the area would
be to initiate a monitoring program for the species
with two annual visual encounter surveys
conducted at all sites where breeding has been
detected. The first survey would target the period
of amplexus in order to identify numbers of
breeding adults and a second survey would allow

Sensitive Plants & Communities

About 30 of the 50 plant associations identified as
having Global (G) or State (S) ranks of 3 or less (or
undetermined (?)) which potentially occur within
the study area were identified (Appendix B Table
1). This represents considerable wetland and
riparian diversity for this relatively arid region;
additionally most of the wetlands are ecologically
intact, although nonnative plants are established in
some and are a considerable threat in all wetlands
and riparian areas.

One large wetland (Copper Creek, Lower
Drainage site) contained an extensive carr, a type
of fen, which is a very uncommon community type
in Montana. This site also has an extensive
bryophyte component and warrants further survey
for this taxonomic group. The wetland would make
a good candidate for studies of post-fire
succession.

At Porcupine Basin we putatively identified the
easternmost documentation of Northern licorice-
root, a species more typically found in mesic

northern Idaho. The lack of seeds for a positive
identification suggests that another visit at the
appropriate time would be worthwhile.

Keep Cool Lakes has a community type that may
have once been a species-rich blue wildrye
meadow, a G2 rank community previously known
only from California and Oregon. Nonnative
timothy grass now dominates. While this site is still
in relatively good ecological condition, it has an
ATV trail through the wetland that typifies the
range of damage that all accessible wetlands can
experience. Nonnative plants were invading along
the ATV track, large disturbances occurred where
the vehicles were extricated from wet areas, and
breeding sites for the Western Toad were only a
few feet from the track. ATV use can quickly
degrade otherwise intact wetlands if access is easy
and not actively discouraged.

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Appendix A. Global/State Rank Definitions

Heritage Program Ranks

The international network of Natural Heritage Programs employs a standardized ranking system to denote
global (range-wide) and state status. Species are assigned numeric ranks ranging from 1 to 5, reflecting
the relative degree to which they are "at-risk". Rank definitions are given below. A number of factors are
considered in assigning ranks — the number, size and distribution of known "occurrences" or populations,
population trends (if known), habitat sensitivity, and threat. Factors in a species' life history that make it
especially vulnerable are also considered (e.g., dependence on a specific pollinator).

Global Rank Definitions (NatureServe 2003)

G 1 Critically imperiled because of extreme rarity and/or other factors making it highly

vulnerable to extinction
G2 Imperiled because of rarity and/or other factors making it vulnerable to extinction

G3 Vulnerable because of rarity or restricted range and/or other factors, even though it may

be abundant at some of its locations
G4 Apparently secure, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the

periphery
G5 Demonstrably secure, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the

periphery
Tl-5 Infraspecific Taxon (trinomial) — The status of infraspecific taxa (subspecies or

varieties) are indicated by a "T-rank" following the species' global rank

State Rank Definitions

51 At high risk because of extremely limited and potentially declining numbers,
extent and/or habitat, making it highly vulnerable to extirpation in the state

52 At risk because of very limited and potentially declining numbers, extent and/or
habitat, making it vulnerable to extirpation in the state

53 Potentially at risk because of limited and potentially declining numbers, extent
and/or habitat, even though it may be abundant in some areas

54 Uncommon but not rare (although it may be rare in parts of its range), and usually
widespread. Apparently not vulnerable in most of its range, but possibly cause for
long-term concern

55 Common, widespread, and abundant (although it may be rare in parts of its
range). Not vulnerable in most of its range

Combination Ranks

G#G# or S#S# Range Rank — A numeric range rank (e.g., G2G3) used to indicate uncertainty about
the exact status of a taxon

Qualifiers

NR Not ranked

Q Questionable taxonomy that may reduce conservation priority — Distinctiveness of

this entity as a taxon at the current level is questionable; resolution of this uncertainty may
result in change from a species to a subspecies or hybrid, or inclusion of this taxon in
another taxon, with the resulting taxon having a lower-priority (numerically higher)
conservation status rank

Appendix A - 1

X Presumed Extinct — Species believed to be extinct throughout its range. Not located

despite intensive searches of historical sites and other appropriate habitat, and virtually no
likelihood that it will be rediscovered

H Possibly Extinct — Species known from only historical occurrences, but may never-the-

less still be extant; further searching needed

U Unrankable — Species currently unrankable due to lack of information or due to substan-

tially conflicting information about status or trends

HYB Hybrid — Entity not ranked because it represents an interspecific hybrid and not a species

? Inexact Numeric Rank — Denotes inexact numeric rank

C Captive or Cultivated Only — Species at present is extant only in captivity or cultivation,

or as a reintroduced population not yet established

A Accidental — Species is accidental or casual in Montana, in other words, infrequent and

outside usual range. Includes species (usually birds or butterflies) recorded once or only a
few times at a location. A few of these species may have bred on the one or two occa-
sions they were recorded

Z Zero Occurrences — Species is present but lacking practical conservation concern in

Montana because there are no definable occurrences, although the taxon is native and
appears regularly in Montana

P Potential — Potential that species occurs in Montana but no extant or historic occurrences

are accepted

R Reported — Species reported in Montana but without a basis for either accepting or

rejecting the report, or the report not yet reviewed locally. Some of these are very recent
discoveries for which the program has not yet received first-hand information; others are
old, obscure reports

SYN Synonym — Species reported as occurring in Montana, but the Montana Natural Heritage

Program does not recognize the taxon; therefore the species is not assigned a rank

* A rank has been assigned and is under review. Contact the Montana Natural Heritage

Program for assigned rank

B Breeding — Rank refers to the breeding population of the species in Montana

N Nonbreeding — Rank refers to the non-breeding population of the species in Montana

Appendix A - 2

Appendix B. Tables

Table 1. Inventory Targets for Plant Species of Concern and Highly Ranked Plant Communities'^

Scientific Name

Common Name

Global
Rank

State
Rank

Noted in
survey

Potentially Occurring Plant Species of Concern (alphabetically arranged by latin binomial)

Carex chordorrihiza

Creeping Sedge

Carex idahoa

Idaho Sedge

Carex livida

Pale Sedge

Carex rostrata

Beaked Sedge

Cypripedium fasciculatum

Clustered Lady's-slipper

Cypripedium parviflorum

Small Yellow Lady's-slipper

Cypripedium passerinum

Sparrow's-egg Lady's-slipper

Drosera anglica

EngUsh Sundew

Drosera linearis

Linear-leaved Sundew

Epipactis gigantea

Giant Helleborine

Kalmia polifolia

Pale Laurel

Lycopodium inundatum

Northern Bog Clubmoss

Scirpus cespitosus

Tufted Club-rush

Utricularia intermedia

Flat-leaved Bladderwort

Potentially Occurring Wetland/Riparian Plant Communities with G or S Rank of 3 or less, or S = ?

Abies lasiocarpa / Oplopanax horridus Forest

Subalpine fir / Devil's-club Forest

Abies lasiocarpa / Streptopus amplexifoliusFor&st

Subalpine fir / Claspleaf twistedstalk Forest

Abies lasiocarpa / Actaea rubra Forest

Subalpine fir / Baneberry Forest

Alnus incana - Betula occidentalis Shrubland

Mountain alder - Water birch Shrubland

Alnus incana / Calamagrostis canadensis Shrubland

Mountain alder / Bluejoint reedgrass Shrubland

Alnus incana / Carex spp. Shrubland

Mountain alder / Sedge spp. Shrubland

Alnus incana / Cornus sericea Shrubland

Mountain / Red-osier dogwood Shrubland

Alnus incana / Equisetum arvense Shrubland

Mountain alder / Field horsetail Shrubland

Alnus incana Mesic Forbs Shrubland

Mountain alder / Mesic Forbs Shrubland

Alnus incana Shrubland

Mountain alder Shrubland

G?Q

Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata / Athyrium filix- femina Shrubland

Sitka alder / Lady fern Shrubland

G3G4

Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata Shrubland [Provisional]

Sitka Alder Shrubland

G?Q

Betula glandulosa / Carex cusickii Shrubland

Bog birch / Cusick's sedge Shrubland

Betula occidentalis - Pentaphylloides floribunda Shrubland

Water birch - Shrubby cinquefoil Shrubland

G2QS?

Betula occidentalis / Cornus sericea Shrubland

Water birch / Red-osier dogwood Shrubland

G3?

Betula occidentalis Shrubland

Water birch Shrubland

G3Q

Carex buxbaumii Herbaceous Vegetation

Buxbaum's sedge Wet Meadow

Carex lanuginosa Herbaceous Vegetation

Woolly sedge Herbaceous Vegetation

Carex limosa Herbaceous Vegetation

Mud sedge Herbaceous Vegetation

Carex simulata Herbaceous Vegetation

Analogue sedge Herbaceous Vegetation

Cornus sericea Shrubland [Provisional]

Red osier dogwood Shrubland

G4Q

Cornus sericea / Galium triflorum Shrubland

Red osier dogwood /
Sweet-scented bedstraw Shrubland

G3?

Crataegus douglasii Shrubland

Black hawthorn Shrubland

G2Q

Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda /Carex spp. Shrubland

Shrubby cinquefoil / sedge spp. Shrubland

G3?

Dulichium arundinaceum Herbaceous Vegetation

Threeway sedge Herbaceous Vegetation

Eleocharis quinqueflora Herbaceous Vegetation

Few-flower spikerush Herbaceous Vegetation

Eleocharis rostellata Herbaceous Vegetation

Beaked spikerush Herbaceous Vegetation

Glyceria borealis Herbaceous Vegetation

Northern mannagrass Wet Meadow

Appendix B - 1

Table 1. Continued.

Scientific Name

Common Name

Global
Rank

State
Rank

Noted in
survey

Phragmites australis Temperate Herbaceous Veg.

Western reed Marsh

Picea engelmannii / Carex disperma Forest

Engelmann spruce / Softleaf sedge Forest

Picea engelmannii / Cornus sericea Woodland

Engelmann spruce / Red-osier dogwood Wdlnd.

Picea engelmannii / Equisetum arvense Forest

Engelmann spruce / Field horsetail Forest

04 S2

Picea engelmannii / Galium triflorum Forest

Engelmann spruce / Sweet-scented bedstraw For.

Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa / Cornus sericea
Forest

Black Cottonwood / Red-osier dogwood Forest

G3?

S3?

Populus tremuloides / Calamagrostis canadensis Forest

Quaking aspen / Bluejoint reedgrass Forest

Populus tremuloides / Cornus sericea Forest

Quaking aspen / Red-osier dogwood Forest

Populus tremuloides / Heracleum maximum Forest

Quaking aspen / Common cowparsnip Forest

G4Q

S2?

Pseudotsuga menziesii/ Cornus sericea Woodland

Douglas fir / Red-osier dogwood Woodland

Salix Candida / Carex lasiocarpa Shrubland

Hoary willow / Slender sedge Shrubland

Salix Candida / Carex utriculata Shrubland

Hoary willow / Beaked sedge Shrubland

Salix drummondiana / Calamagrostis canadensis
Shrubland

Drummond's willow /
Bluejoint reedgrass Shrubland

Salix geyeriana / Carex aquatilis Shrubland

Geyer's willow / Aquatic sedge Shrubland

Salix geyeriana / Deschampsia cespitosa Shrubland

Geyer willow / Tufted hairgrass Shrubland

Salix geyeriana /Mesic Graminoids Shrubland

Geyer's willow / Mesic Graminoid Shrubland

Salix planifolia / Calamagrostis canadensis Shrubland

Planeleaf willow / Bluejoint reedgrass Shrubland

Salix planifolia / Carex aquatilis Shrubland

Planeleaf willow / Aquatic sedge Shrubland

Salix planifolia / Carex scopulorum Shrubland

Planeleaf willow /

Holm's Rocky Mountain Sedge Shrubland

Salix planifolia / Carex utriculata Shrubland

Planeleaf willow / beaked sedge Shrubland

Salix wolf a / Deschampsia cespitosa Shrubland

Wolf willow / tufted hairgrass Shrubland

Senecio triangularis Herbaceous Vegetation

Arrowleaf ragwort Herbaceous Vegetation

G5?

S3?

Spiraea douglasii Shrubland

Rose spiraea Shrubland

* Communities without ranks are those recently described for Montana and not yet ranked.

Appendix B - 2

Table 2. Amphibian and reptile species detected during wetland site surveys. Heritage Program surveys were
conducted in June and September 2004 and July 2005. Other observations at these sites in preceding years are
included for reference. Site numbers correspond to those shown in figures.

Site
No.

Site Name

Township Range

Section

(elevation)

Date

Lead

Surveyor &

Duration

(hr:min)

Species

Comments

Upper Keep Cool Lake

T15NR8WS34NWSE

(4980 ft)

6/1/2004

Paul Hendricks
3:10

BUBO
RALU

3 ad., 6 egg strings
5 ad., 17JUV., 1 tadpole

7/29/2005

Bryce Maxell
0:57

RALU
THSI

lad.
lad.

Lower Keep Cool Lake

T15NR8WS34SWSW

(4940 ft)

6/1/2004

Paul Hendricks
2:00

RALU
THSI

6 ad.
lad.

Indian Meadows pond 1

T16NR8WS34NENW
(6080 ft)

6/2/2004

Paul Hendricks
1:40

BUBO
RALU

1 ad., 800+ larvae

2 juv.

7/29/2005

Bryce Maxell
0:10

AMMA
RALU

^100 larvae
2 metamorphs

Indian Meadows pond 2

T16NR8WS34NWNW
(6065 ft)

6/2/2004

Paul Hendricks
1:10

BUBO

1 ad. (calling)

7/29/2005

Bryce Maxell
0:09

BUBO

200+ metamorphs

Indian Meadows pond 3

T16NR8WS33NWNE

(6040 ft)

6/2/2004

Paul Hendricks
1:40

BUBO
RALU

4 ad. (pair amplexed)
1 subad.

7/29/2005

Bryce Maxell
0:56

AMMA
RALU

3 larvae
2 juv.

Indian Meadows pond 4

T16NR8WS33SWNE

(6020 ft)

6/2/2004

Paul Hendricks
0:50

RALU

3 juv., 10+ larvae

Indian Meadows pond 5

T16NR8WS34SWNW

(5950 ft)

6/2/2004

Paul Hendricks
0:40

RALU

2 juv.

Upper Copper Lake

T15NR9WS4SWSW

(7220 ft)

6/3/2004

Paul Hendricks
2:00

AMMA
RALU

1 ad., 4 egg masses
3 ad., 9 juv.

Upper Copper Lake pond

T15NR9WS9NENW

(7220 ft)

6/3/2004

Paul Hendricks
0:40

none

Lower Copper Lake

T15NR9WS9SESE

(6860 ft)

6/3/2004

Paul Hendricks
0:30

none

large salmonids

Reservoir Lake

T15NR10WS25SWNW

(5470 ft)

8/31/1995

Jim Reichel
Unknown duration

none

9/1/1996

Bogaert, J.
Unknown duration

AMMA

5 individuals

5/23/2001

Laura Burns
Unknown duration

AMMA
BUBO

200 individuals, 1 egg
1 amplexed pair

6/4/2004

Paul Hendricks
1:00

BUBO

19 ad., 2 egg strings
(7 pairs amplexed)

7/29/2005

Bryce Maxell
0:30

AMMA
BUBO
RALU

< 10,000 larvae

< 100 larvae
1 juv.

Unnamed wetland

T15NR8WS3SWSE

(5600 ft)

9/8/2004

Coburn Currier
0:50

RALU

1 ad., 10 juv.

Unnamed wetland

T15NR8WS3SESE

(5630 ft)

9/8/2004

Coburn Currier
0:20

RALU

3 ad., 29 juv.

Snowbank Lake

T15NR8WS9NWNW

(5300 ft)

6/8/2001

Mike Kaiser
Unknown duration

BUBO

1 individual

9/8/2004

Coburn Currier
0:50

BUBO

100s juv.,
1000s larvae

7/29/2005

Bryce Maxell
0:56

BUBO
THEL

< 10,000 larvae
2 ad.

Copper Creek small pond

T15NR8WS5NWNW
(5400 ft)

9/8/2004

Coburn Currier
0:30

BUBO

lad.

^ AMMA (Ambystoma macrodactylum: long-toed salamander), ASMO (Ascaphus montanus: Rocky Mountain tailed frog), BUBO
{Bufo boreas: western toad), RALU (Rana luteiventris: Columbia spotted frog), THEL (Thamnophis elegans: Terrestrial
Gartersnake), THSI (Thamnophis sirtalis: common garter snake).

Appendix B - 3

Table 2. Continued.

Site
No.

Site Name

Township Range

Section

(elevation)

Date

Surveyor and
Duration
(hrrmin)

Species^

Comments

Copper Creek big pond

T15NR8WS5NWNW
(5400 ft)

5/24/1995

Jim Reichel
Unknown
duration

AMMA
RALU

7 egg masses
lad.

9/8/2004

Coburn Currier
1:10

BUBO
RALU

1 ad., 1 juv.
5 ad., 12 juv.

Bryce Maxell
0:46

AMMA
BUBO
RALU
THEL

< 100 larvae

< 100 larvae, 9 juv.

< 100 larvae, 13 ad.
2 ad.

Copper Creek wetlands

T15NR8WS5NWNE
(5350 ft)

9/8/2004

Coburn Currier
2:10

RALU

1 ad., 6 juv.,
3 larvae

Copper Creek marsh

T15NR8WS4NWSW

(5340 ft)

9/9/2004

Coburn Currier
0:30

RALU

2 ad.

Yukon Creek

T15NR9WS29SESW

(5000 ft)

9/9/2004

Coburn Currier
2:40

ASMO
RALU

1 ad., 29 larvae
3 juv.

Klondike Creek

T15NR9WS32NENE
(4900 ft)

9/9/2004

Coburn Currier
2:10

ASMO
BUBO

21 larvae
lad.

Blackfoot Oxbow

T14NR10WS33SWSE

8/25/1995

Jim Reichel
Unknown
duration

AMMA
BUBO
RALU

1 larvae

3 metamorphs

10 ad., 43 juv

7/6/2001

Ryan Killackey
1:00

AMMA
BUBO
RALU

< 100 larvae

< 100 larvae, 1 juv, 1 ad

7/9/2002

Franz Zikesch
2:00

AMMA
BUBO
RALU

< 100 larvae

< 10,000 larvae
3 juv, 1 ad.

7/25/2004

Allison Greene
Unknown
duration

BUBO
RALU

30 juv.
lad.

7/28/2005

Bryce Maxell
5:00

AMMA
BUBO

RALU
THEL

< 1,000 larvae
10,000+ larvae, 1,000+
metamorphs, 1 ad.

< lOlarvae, 5 juv, 10 ad
lad.

"" AMMA (Ambystoma macrodactylum: long-toed salamander), ASMO (Ascaphus montanus: Rocky Mountain tailed frog), BUBO
{Bufo boreas: western toad), RALU (Rana luteiventris: Columbia spotted frog), THEL (Thamnophis elegans: Terrestrial
Gartersnake), THSI (Thamnophis sirtalis: common garter snake).

Appendix B - 4

Appendix C. Occurrence Maps of Herpetofauna

Data Source

• Heritage Program in 2004 and 2005 n

* Amphibian Inventory Program W^^w^^^E
+ Other Data in Heritage Database ^

Site Numbers Correspond to those in Table 2

0.9 1.8 Miles

M (} N T A N A

Natural
Heritage
Program

Figure 1. Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macro dactylum)

Appendix C - 1

Data Source

• Heritage Program in 2004 and 2005 n

• Amphibian Inventory Program yy
+ Other Data in Heritage Database

Site Numbers Correspond to those in Table 2

0.9 1.8 Miles
_J I

/ M Natural
U%>$^ Heritage

Figure 2. Rocky Mountain Tailed Frog (Ascaphus montanus)

Appendix C - 2

Data Source

• Heritage Program in 2004 and 2005

* Amphibian Inventory Program
+ Other Data in Heritage Database

Site Numbers Correspond to those in Table 2

W^^^E

0.9 1.8 Miles
_J I

a Natural

' Heritage

Program

Figure 3. Western Toad (Bufo boreas)

Appendix C - 3

Data Source

• Heritage Program in 2004 and 2005 n

• Amphibian Inventory Program yy
+ Other Data in Heritage Database

Site Numbers Correspond to those in Table 2

0.9 1.8 Miles
_J I

M {} N T A N A

Natural
Heritage
Program

Figure 4. Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris)

Appendix C - 4

Data Source

• Heritage Program in 2004 and 2005

• Amphibian Inventory Program

+ Other Data in Heritage Database

N
S

0.9 1.8IVIiles
_J I

M (} N T A N A

Natural
Heritage
Program

Site Numbers Correspond to those in Table 2

Figure 5. Terrestrial Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans)

Appendix C - 5

Data Source

• Heritage Program in 2004 and 2005

* Amphibian Inventory Program
+ Other Data in Heritage Database

Site Numbers Correspond to those in Table 2

0.9 1.8 Miles
I \ I

/^ j^^^ M {} N T A N A

/ M Natural
\a^3 Heritage

Figure 6. Common Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis)

Appendix C - 6

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